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“I cook from my heart, not from my pocket. I run a fish and chip shop first, and a business second.”

Having won the regional award, the Captain is one of ten finalists vying for the national title in the competition organised by Seafish, which has been dubbed the Oscars of the industry.

“It’s a great achievement, and hopefully my journey doesn’t end today,” Tony said.

Tony Forgione founded the shop twenty years ago

This year marks two decades in the industry for Tony, who opened the High Street shop under the name of Captain Cod in 1998.

The shop underwent an extensive refurbishment and change of name in 2016 – but the wider industry has undergone even bigger revolution during that period.

“Things have changed massively, a heck of a lot,” Tony said.

A new generation of customers have emerged with concerns about how their food is sourced, the use of biodegradable packaging and meeting MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) standards, for example, all of which Tony has had to address.